Washing machine



Filed Sept. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 6b 65 Q Fe I I lll\l J j. A 7 a I 1 .36

I as .3 3 a] 'J7fl%Zfl/ Aug. 28, 1928. 1,582,212

, H T. BQRSHEIM I WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 of the clothes relative to the cups, while the Patented Aug. 28,1928.

UNITED STATES 1,682,212 PATENT oFF cs.

HANS T. BORSHEIM, F CHARLES CITY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO HAB T-Pm c OMPANY, OF CHARLES CITY, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA- WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed September 21, 1925. Serial No. 57,697.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines. and more particularly to that type commonly known as the vacuum washer which employs a number of inverted vacuum cups which are oscillated vertically to provide the agitating means for the clothes within the container. It usually requires a rather complicated mechanism for actuating the said vacuum cups.

It is, therefore, the object of my invention to provide an improved and simplified means for actuating the vacuum cups.

A further object is to provide means where by the said cups and a portion of the actuating mechanism may be mounted on the tub cover, in such a manner that the cups will be removed from the interior of the tub when the cover is moved to an open position, and in connection therewith provide means for connecting the actuating mechanism of the cover to the actuating mechanism supported on the main frame when the cover is in a closed position.

A further object is to provide means for rotating the tub so as to change the position cups are being actuated.

A further object is to provide means for simultaneously throwing the cup actuating mechanism and the tub actuating mechanism into and out of operation.

A further object is to provide improved means for mounting the cups relative to the actuating mechanism in such a manner that a certain amount of yieldability may be provided between the said actuating mechanism and the cups to somewhat reduce the violent action of the cups so that delicate clothing may be washed without tearing.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved washing machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism for yieldably mounting the cup relative to its actuating mechanism, a portion of which is shown in section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

My improved washing machine comprises a frame having supporting legs 10 secured to a horizontally arranged web. 11. The upper ends of the legs 10 are secured to an annular member 12. The central portion of the member 11 is provided with a hub 13. The said hub 13 1s provided with a vertically arranged shaft 14, the upper end of which is rigidly connected to a web or frame member 15 which is designed to carry the bottom member 16 of the tub 17. This provides means whereby the said tub 17 will be rotatively mounted about a vertical axis. The upper edge of said tub is mounted within the annular member 12 of the frame 10, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

For imparting continuous rotary movement to the tub 17 while the machine is in operation, I have provided an annular rack 18 on the bottom side of the member 15, said rack being designed to mesh with a pinion 19 secured on the inner end of an inclined shaft 20. The outer end of said shaft 20 is provided with a. beveled gear 21 in mesh with a beveled pinion 22, rotatively mounted on a vertical shaft 23, said shaft-having its lower end mounted in bearing members 24 and 25, which are formed in a gear casing 26, said gear casing bein secured to the frame 10 by means of suitab e rivets or bolts 27. lower end of the shaft 23 is provided with a worm gear 28 'desi ned to mesh with a worm 29 mounted on t e horizontally arranged shaft 30 operatively connected with a motor The 31, said motor being mounted on a suitable bracket 32 supported by the legs 10. The pinion 22- is provided with-a clutch member 33 designed to coact with a sliding clutch member 34 keyed to the shaft 23 and actuated by means of a yoke 35 supported on the lower end of the vertical shaft 36. A spring 37 is provided on the lower end of the shaft 36 and beneath the member 35 so that the clutch member 34' is normally held'out of engagement with the clutch member 33.

By this arrangement it will be seen that whenthe rod 36 is pressed downwardly the gear 32 will be thrown into operative relation with the shaft 23 and rotary movement will be imparted to the tub 17, the gearing being so arranged that the speed of the said tub will be quite slow.

Pivotally mounted on one side of the annular member 12 is a cover member 38 having the form of a segment of a sphere and having one edge of its inner face provided with a horizontally and inwardly extending bearing member 39, in which is rotatively and slidably mounted a shaft 40. The member 39 is provided with a longitudinal cavity 41 designed to receive the detachable bearing members 42 and 43. A packing gland 44 is provided at the outer end of each of said bearing members. The inner end of the shaft is provided with a transversely and horizontally arranged arm 45. The outer end of the member 39 is provided with a downward ly extending portion 46 to which is pivoted an arm 47 parallel with the arm 45. Pivotally connected to the corresponding ends of said arms and 47 is a sleeve 48. The lower end of each of the sleeves 48 is designed to slidably receive a sleeve 49, the lower end of which is connected with a" vacuum cup 50. Extending longitudinally through the sleeves 48 and 49 is a rod 51, the lower end of which is connected to the cup 50 while the upper end of said rod is slidably mounted in a hearing member 52 within the sleeve 48. That portion of the rod 51 between the bearing members 52 and the cup 50 is provided with a spring 58, while the outer end of the rod 51 is provided with a head 54, said outer end also being provided with a spring 55 which rests between the bearing 52 and said head 54.

By this arrangement it willbeseen that the cup 50 is yieldably supported relative to the sleeve 48. It will further be seen that the shaft 40 may be rocked, which will cause the ends of the members 47 to be oscillated, while the members 48 are held in parallel relation with each other and adapted to move vertically. The cups 50 are mounted within the tub 17 in the manner clearly shown in of a rotatively mounted shaft 61. Said pin' 60 is located away from the center of the shaft 61 so as to form a sort of crank by means of which the head 58 will be moved inwardly as the said shaft is rotated. A handie 62 is provided for imparting said rotary movement. Said shaft 61 is also provided with slots 63 designed to receive a spring actuated locking bar 64 for locking the member 58 either at its outeror-inner limit of I movement.

Supported on the annular member 12 is a gear housing 65 to which the upper end of i the shaft 23 extends, said gear housing being supported by means of a bracket 66 and a tubular support 67. The lower end of said support rests in the upper end of the gear housing 26. That portion of the shaft 23 which extends through the housing 65 is provided with a circular disk 68 which is rigidly mounted to the shaft at an angle of forty five degrees. The point of intersection between the center of said disk and the center of said shaft is in common alinement with the center of the shaft 40. The periphery of the disk 68 is provided with a rotatively mounted ring 69 provided with diametrically opposite pivot pins 70 which are pivotallymounted in a second ring 71, said ring 71 being provided with pivot members 72 arranged at right angles to the pivot members the cups 50 to be elevated and lowered within the tub, which is bein at the same time. serve to act as shock absorbers, which somewhat modify the violent action of the cups as the reverse motion takes place, and thereby p'ovides means whereby delicate clothes may washed without injury, the action of the continuously rotated vacuum cups within the tub being too well known to require descriptiom Thus it will be seen I have provided a Washing machine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, which provides a mechanism, of simple construction for imparting movement to the cups, which are mounted in the cover in such a manner that when the cover is elevated, the cups will be entirely removed from the interior of the tub permitting free access to the clothes therein.

It will further be seen that I have provided improved means for moving the clothes relative to the cups, which is accomplished by the continuous rotation of the tub.

It will further be seen that I have provided means whereby the cup actuatin mechanism carried by the cover may be easily and quickly disconnected from the mechanism within the housing 65 by simply grasping the lever 62 and also the lever 75 which is operatively connected with the bar 64, said bar being disengaged from the notches 68, after which the lever 62 may be elevated causing the member 58 to be moved inwardly against the action of the spring 57 and the clutch members disengaged. In this connection it should be borne in mind that the lever 62 rests on The springs 51 and 54.

movement about a vertical LX1S, a cover memthe upper end of the rod 36 when at its lower limit of movement, and serves to hold the said rod in its lowered position of movement against the spring 37 which causes the tub to be thrown into operation. When the said lever 62 is elevated, the clutch members 34 will disengage the clutchmember 33 and throw the tub out of operation, and at the same time the clutch members 58 and 7 3 are disengaged.

It will further be seen .that the tub 111cmber 17 may be easily and quickly removed from the frame by simply imparting an upward movement, which will cause the shaft 14 to disengage the hub 13, providing means whereby the tub may be easily and quickly removed when necessary.

I claim as my invention:

1. A washing machine comprising a supporting frame, a tub rotatively mounted for her for said tub pivotally mounted to said frame, an agitator carried by said cover memher, an actuating mechanism for said agitator also carried by said cover member, means carried by said frame for imparting movement to said actuating means when the cover member is closed, means for imparting rotary movement to said tub, and means for simultaneously throwing said tub actuating means and said agitator actuating means into or out of operation.

2. In a washing machine, a supporting frame, a tub rotatively mounted therein, a cover member pivotally mounted to said frame, an agitator comprising a horizontally arranged shaft, a support for said shaft se cured to said cover, an agitator arm fixed t0 the inner end of said shaft, a second arm pivotally mounted to the lower end of said support and parallel with the first said arm, a vertically arranged sleeve pivotally mounted to the corresponding ends of said arms, the lower ends of said sleeves being open, a sleeve slidably mounted in the open end of each of said sleeves, a cup rigidly secured to the lower end of each of the last said sleeves, yieldable means for supporting the last said sleeve against sliding movement within the first said sleeves, means for oscillating said shaft, means for continuously rotating said tub, and means for simultaneously throwing said tub actuating means and the means for ing rotary movement to said tub, acover member forsaid tub pivotally connected to said annular frame member, an agitator carrotatably mounted in said bearings, packing members adjacent to the outer end of each of said bearings, the inner end of said shaft being provided with a laterally extending arm, a second arm pivotally supported and parallel therewith, corresponding ends of said arms being pivotally connected with a vertical sleeve, a second sleeve slidably mounted within the first said sleeve, a vacuum cup on the lower end of the second said sleeve, a rod extending centrally through both of said sleeves,-the upper end of which is slidably mounted in a bearing member in the upper end of the first said sleeve, the upper end of said rod being provided with a head, a spring on said rod between said head and said bearing member, and a spring on said rod between said bearing member and said cup.

5. In a washing machine, a supporting frame comprising a horizontally arranged web member having a central hub, a vertical shaft rotatively mounted in said hub, an annular frame member parallel with said web, a

series of vertically arranged supporting legs connected to said annular member and said web member, a tub secured to the upper end of said vertical shaft, means for imparting rotary movement -to said tub, a cover member for said tub pivotally connected to-said annular frame member, an agitator carried by said cover member, means supported by said annular frame member diametrically opposite from the pivot member of said cover for imparting movement to said agitator, and means for simultaneously throwing said agitator operating means and said tub operating means into and out of operation with their respective members.

6.v In a washing machine, a supporting frame comprising a horizontally arranged web member having a central hub having a vertlcal bearing member, an annular frame.

member parallel with said web. a series of vertically arranged supporting legs for said annular member and said web member, a vertical shaft for said bearing member, a horizontal web member for the upper end of said shaft, a tub supported on the last said web member, said second named web member having an annular gear rack on its bottom surface, the upper end of said tub member extending Within said annular member, a pinion gear for said rack, and means for imparting rotary movement to said pinion gear.

7. In a Washing machine, a supporting frame comprising a horizontally arranged Web member having a central hub having a vertical bearing member, an annular frame member parallel with said Web, a series of vertically arranged supporting members for said annular member and said web member, a vertical shaft for said bearing member, a horizontal Web member for the upper end of said shaft, a tub supported on the last said Web member, said second named web member having an annular gear rack on its bottom surface, the upper end of said tub member extending within said annular member, a pinion gear for said rack, means for imparting rotary movement to said pinion gear, a cover member for said tub pivotally connected to said annular frame member, an agitator carried by said tub member adapted to swing, out of said tub when the said cover is moved to an open position, and means for actuating said agitating mechanism when the cover is in a closed position.

Des Moines, Iowa, September 10, 1925.

HANS T. BORSHEIM. 

